Coast Guard identifies oil seepage on Bolivar Peninsula, Texas

Federal, state and local agencies and response personnel dig a trench and place sorbent boom to collect oil seeping from the ground on Bolivar Peninsula in Texas Saturday, June 20, 2015. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

TEXAS CITY, Texas — The Coast Guard, state and local officials are responding to an area of oil seepage Saturday on the Bolivar Peninsula approximately 4 miles west of Rollover Pass.

While conducting a beach patrol Friday at approximately 11:30 a.m., the Coast Guard identified a 100-yard area along the beach with oil seepage.

Since the oil seepage was identified; the Coast Guard, Texas General Land Office, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and Galveston County Office of Emergency Management have been working to contain and clean-up the affected area. The Texas Railroad Commission has been providing support as well.

The Coast Guard hired an oil spill response organization by utilizing the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. The oil spill response organization is currently on scene containing and cleaning-up the area of affected shoreline.

“We will continue working with our state and local partners to protect the public and Texas Gulf coast’s sensitive environment from this pollution threat,” said Lt. Cmdr. Stacy McNeer, the chief of response at Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Texas City.

Game Wardens closed 200 yards of beach around the affected area. There are no reports of impacted wildlife.